Lecture No.

1
Instructor: Ms. Rabia Habib
Content:
Psychology,
Goals of Psychology,
Behavior,
Methods in Psychology,
Psychology:
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior,
according to the American Psychological Association.
It is the study of the mind, how it works, and how it
affects behavior.
Psychology can be defined as study of human mind and
behavior, it also includes process which can help solve
human problems and improve the living style of
individuals.
Psychology (cont’d):
Psychology can also be defined as:
“The scientific study of the human mind and its functions,
especially those affecting behavior in a given context.”.

The first part explains psychology as science,

The second part explains application of psychological

principles to life’s problems.
Psychology (cont’d):
Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that
involves the scientific study of mental functions and
behavior.

Psychology has the immediate goal of understanding

individuals and groups by both establishing general
principles and researching specific cases, and by many
accounts it ultimately aims to benefit society.
Psychology as Science:
Psychology is systematic,

Experiments and observations are at the core of scientific

psychology,

Scientific theories helps in summarizing what has been

observed and in making predictions,

Measurement of physical scales.

Difference between Psychologist
& Psychiatrist:
Psychologists are professional who have Masters/M.Phil.
or PhD. Degree in Psychology. They can not prescribe
medicine. They can do counselling to solve mind related
problems. In certain complicated cases, psychologists can
refer to Psychiatrist.

Psychiatrist, on the other hand, are MBBS doctors who

specializes in the field of psychiatry. They can prescribe
medicine and also do counselling.
Counselling:
Counselling is a term used for the process in which
psychologist interact with the patient and through
discussion, try to solve patient’s problems.

This can enable the patient to focus on feelings,

experiences or behavior, with a goal of facilitating
positive change.
The feelings experienced by patient can be stressful or
emotional.
Professional Categories:
In this field, a professional practitioners or researcher is
called a psychologist and can be classified as:

 Social,
Behavioral, or
Cognitive functions.
Professional Categories(contd.):

Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental

functions in individual and social behavior,

Psychologists explore the physiological and biological

processes that underlie cognitive functions and behaviors.
Goals of Modern Psychology:
To identify the causes of normal behavior and mental
processes,

To better treat abnormal thoughts and behavior,

To improve people’s life.

Can Psychology be truly scientific?
Human behavior difficult to predict precisely, however
governed by general principles.

Behavior is determined by:

current environment,
culture,
genetics,
moment-to-moment experiences.
Behavior:
Behavior includes anything a person or animal does that
can be observed in some way,

Internal mental events can be studied as they manifest

through what people do,

It is through behavior that we can study and understand

internal mental processes, which are otherwise hidden
from us.
Fields in which Behavior is
studied:
Psychology- individual human behavior is studied
Sociology- collective human behavior is studied
Economics- human behavior related to buying &
selling activities are studied.
Anthropology- human behavior across different
cultures is studied.
Zoology- animal behavior is studied.
Fields/ Areas of Psychology:
Family Counselors- help solve family related problems.

Educational Psychologists - hired by educational institutions,

try to assist students in solving study related problems and
provide career counselling.

Industrial Psychologists- hired by organizations and help

solve conflict between employees and owners.

Social Psychologists- these are researchers who try to study

normal social interaction in a society and observe changes over
a period of time.
Fields/ Areas of Psychology:
Experimental Psychologists- they use scientific methods
to collect data and perform research.
They can work in varied settings, including universities,
research centers, the government and private businesses.
They can use scientific research to provide insights that
improve teaching and learning, create safer workplaces,
and promote healthy child development, etc.
Those who work in academia often teach psychology
courses in addition to performing research and publishing
their findings in psychological journals.
Methods in Psychology:
Experimental Methods,

Systematic Observation,

Clinical Method.
Experimental Methods:
How exactly do researchers investigate the human mind
and behavior?
While there are a number of different research techniques,
the experimental method allows researchers to look at
cause-and-effect relationships.
In the experimental method, researchers identify and
define key variables, formulate a hypothesis, manipulate
the variables and collect data on the results.
Extraneous variables are carefully controlled to minimize
a potential impact on the outcome of the experiment.
Experimental Methods (cont’d):
The experimental method involves manipulating one
variable to determine if changes in one variable cause
changes in another variable.
This method relies on controlled methods, random
assignment and the manipulation of variables to test a
hypothesis.
An experiment is an investigation in which a hypothesis
(proposed explanation for a phenomenon) is scientifically
tested.
Experimental Methods (cont’d):
In an experiment, an independent variable (the cause) is
manipulated and the dependent variable (the effect) is
measured; any extraneous (irrelevant) variables are
controlled.
There are a few different types of experiments that
researchers might choose to use.
The type of experiment chosen might depend on a variety
of factors including the participants, the hypothesis and
the resources available to the researchers.
Characteristics of Experimental
Methods:
Variables:
independent variables,
dependent variables.
Controls:
Control Groups,
Baselines.
Replication
Limitations:
Results are highly subjective due to the possibility of
human error.
Experimental research can create situations that are not
realistic.
 It is a time-consuming process.
Extraneous variables cannot always be controlled.
Human responses in experimental research can be
difficult to measure.
Participants can be influenced by their current situation.
2. Systematic Observations:
An objective, well-ordered method for close examination
of some phenomenon or aspect of behavior, so as to
obtain reliable data unbiased by observer interpretation.
 Systematic observation typically involves specification of
the exact actions, attributes, or other variables that are to
be recorded and precisely how they are to be recorded.
 The intent is to ensure that, under the same or similar
circumstances, all observers will obtain the same results.
Systematic observations is careful observation of specific
behavior in specific setting using structured techniques.
Systematic Observations (cont’d):
Behavior of the participants under study are observed and
described as it occur naturally.
Questionnaires, surveys, interviews etc. are used to make
observations.
Observations are used to infer the causes of behavior
being studied, with the assistance of certain rules of logic.
Logical inferences are drawn on the basis of observations
and description of behavior.
Systematic Observations:
To describe the behavior as it occurs naturally,

To make observations by using various techniques, i.e.

questionnaires,
surveys,
interviews.

Capitalize on variations that occur naturally,

Logical inferences.
Methods of Systematic Observations:
From Description to cause,
what causes the observed behavior

Inductive reasoning
establishing general principles from
particular illustrations.
Inductive Reasoning:
Firstly, identify the cause of behavior by observing the
effects of a particular behavior

Secondly, quantitative relation with the observed

behavior,

Causative factors
3. Clinical Method:
“Integration of the science, theory and clinical knowledge
for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and
relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction
and to promote subjective and behavioral well-being and
personal development”.
Key Practice Areas:
Key practice areas are psychological assessment and
psychotherapy,

Clinical psychologists also engage in research, teaching,

consultation, and program development and
administration.
Techniques Used in Clinical Method:
Experiments,

Systematic Observations.
Reference:
Morgan,King,Weisz and Schopler (2009) Introduction to
Psychology, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall.